“Fine. I’ll have another street named after you. I noticed Main Street is now sporting a Grayson Schyler Street sign.” She waited and when he seemed to think about it, she gave an unladylike snort. “The point is, what I have planned will not only benefit you, but everyone in the community … but I can’t do it without your help.”
“Stop for a moment.” He leaned toward her and braced his hands on his knees. “You haven’t changed a bit, have you? Sure, you look different, but inside you’re still the same troublemaker you were back then.”
No. She wasn’t, dammit. She’d come back to show everyone that the Shauna Marino they’d known years ago had grown up. She wasn’t going to screw up again. Grayson would see how she had learned to control her feelings and wouldn’t compromise his position in the community.
This time, she couldn’t fail.
“Grayson.” She softened her voice. “Please, listen. This is important to me, and the town.”
“Why?” he asked. “Why do you care?”
“Because I’ve done a lot of things I’m ashamed of, and I want to show everyone that I’m an important part of this town.” She picked up the pen on her desk and clicked the end several times. “My dad did the best he could, raising me on my own, but I didn’t make it easy for him after my mom left us, you know? I hurt you and everyone else I involved in my unacceptable behavior. I want to make it up to everyone.”
He nodded and stood up. “What’s this huge proposal you have in mind?”
She pointed at the folder in his hand. “Look at the first page and tell me about the people I have listed.”
Grayson scanned the sheet, shrugged, and moved over to sit in the chair. “Bruce Coldwell’s a buddy of mine. In fact, last week he returned from a Pro Bass fishing expedition in North Dakota. Gary Satchel is on hiatus until the NFL season starts. Crista Johnson — ” he glanced at her, smiled, and chuckled under his breath “ — I had dinner with her in Palm Springs last weekend. She’s training to win the Iron Man again this year, and is in fine shape.”
Shauna crossed her legs and clasped her hands together on her lap. The urge to crack her knuckles in success, get up on the desk, and dance in victory came too early. He hadn’t agreed to anything, so instead she mentally clapped herself on research well done. It hadn’t been easy discovering Grayson’s friends. He was a private person, despite his flamboyant way of parading his string of girlfriends around in front of the camera.
“Juan Santiago is out of commission. He’s recovering from surgery to repair his shoulder. I believe it was a blown rotary cup. It’s iffy if he’ll be ready in time for the winter Olympics. The head coach for the men’s downhill ski team seems to think he’ll be able to hit the slopes in time, but Juan is worried. He’s young though, so he can afford to wait another four years. The last name is Dominic Chekovsky. He’s at the top of his hockey career playing for the San Jose Sharks, and rarely takes time away from the ice rink. I haven’t seen him for six months. The last time I talked to him, he told me he was hiding out in his home country of Russia to get away from the press here in the states.” He closed the folder and leaned forward. “Now why don’t you tell me what this is all about, and why you’ve collected a list of my closest friends?”
“I’d like to put together a charity event. I’d make simple requests on the athletes’ part. It wouldn’t take much of their time, but would be huge for Cottage Grove. Crista could lead a one-hour training course for kids, get them motivated about exercise, and help them realize that real people can achieve dreams. Maybe she could run a short 2k race with others if she was willing. Dominic could stand in and let people challenge him shot for shot with the hockey stick. The winner would receive one thousand dollars, which would come out of the two-dollar admittance fee.” She inhaled and swallowed.
“That’s all?” he huffed.
“Seriously, Grayson, it won’t be hard on them. I’m only asking for three days of their time. If we could convince them to stay and eat with the community, sign autographs, even better. In return, I’ll advertise the event countrywide. I project the tourism alone for the hotels, restaurants, and novelty stores in Cottage Grove will earn more than they do in a year with all the people who would come to see the celebrities.”
He shook his head. “You’re missing one important part of your plan that could bomb the whole idea.”
“What’s that?” She raised her brow.
“What’s in it for the celebrities? They’re taking the time and expense of coming here to help.” He narrowed his eyes. “Plus, what are you willing to do for me if I help you?”
Shauna stood up and walked around to the front of her desk. “I’m hoping you could ask them, as a friend, and convince them that this would be a miracle for Cottage Grove … along with participating in the event yourself. The media attention alone will boost their career and give them extra coverage. It’ll be great PR.”
He sighed. “When do you want to hold the event?”
“Three months from now. The last week of September.” She clasped her hands together in front of her. “The weather will be perfect, and the timing won’t interfere with the kids’ camp you run in August.”
Grayson nodded. “Let me see what I can do. I’m not promising anything. That’s a lot of different people who run on individualized schedules, and three months isn’t a lot of time to rearrange their lives.”
“I know, but you can do it. Everybody lov … looks up to you, respects you.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.” He cocked his brow. “What are you going to do for me if I help you?”
She swallowed. “I suppose you won’t believe me if I tell you I promise not to have a thing to do with you after we’re through with the event … ”
He shook his head. “You’ve forgotten that I know you. You never do anything without an ulterior motive. I’ll need more than that.”
“I-I don’t have anything — ”
“Oh, but I think you do.” He stared at her mouth. “Sex.”
“What?” She laughed to hide her gasp and the way goose bumps broke out over her body.
“I want to have sex with you.” He licked his lips. “Don’t tell me you’re shy. You walked into my office naked when you were eighteen years old and offered yourself to me. You’re no longer a little girl — ” he glanced down at her breasts, “ — and I want to take you up on your offer now.”
Oh God. He had to bring up the one incident she’d like to forget. She smoothed her shirt over her stomach, feeling naked under his gaze. She wouldn’t make the mistake of trying to seduce him again.
“That won’t be happening. Remember, I’m back to help the city. Plus, I’ve given up on my pursuit of the great Grayson Schyler.” She studied the framed picture on the wall behind Grayson. “Help me do this for Cottage Grove. The town needs help, Grayson. I’ve spent hours scouring through the city’s accounts. Cottage Grove will be lucky to have enough money left over to pave the potholes within the city limits at the end of the fiscal year.”
“I know.” Grayson sighed and ran his hand across the back of his neck. “I’ll see what I can do, okay?”
Shauna looked up and smiled. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’m not promising that I can get them all to agree to come and help, but I’ll try.” He lifted his arm and checked his watch. “I’ve got to go. I’m supposed to meet Stephanie for lunch, and I’m already late. I wouldn’t want to disappoint her.”
“Stephanie of the triple Ds and bleached hair — ” She clamped her mouth shut.
She caught him staring at her, and she wrinkled her nose. Maybe she’d whispered the question, or only imagined she spoke aloud …
dammit.
“Um … uh, that’s great. Let me know as soon as you can. In the meantime, I’ll work on organizing the events and I’ll send you an itinerary to pass to the others. That way they’ll have an idea of what will be required of them.” She swallowed. The gulp seemed to echo in the silence.
“Fine.” His mouth curved and he stood up from the chair, cocking his head. “I didn’t know you had such a lovely impression of Stephanie.”
“I don’t. She means nothing to me. I couldn’t care less about who you’re dating.” She lifted her chin and stood up straighter. “Although, Stephanie must have grandchildren by now … ”
Stephanie’s reputation was well known even back when Shauna was in high school. She’d often babysit Stephanie’s two young children while Stephanie went out on her dates.
“Impossible. Her kids are still in school. Besides, men enjoy the company of a mature, sexually satisfying woman who knows how to — ”
“Enough.” Shauna stuck out her lower lip and blew the hair out of her face.
God, it’s hot in here.
“Okay.” He chuckled. “I’ve agreed to help you. In the meantime, think about my request. I’ll be in touch.”
The room turned into a garbage compacter, pressing in on all sides as Grayson loomed over her. She wanted to jump up and tell him yes. Yes, she’d have sex with him, here in the office, on the floor, or every day at one o’clock if he asked.
She fought what she wanted to say, and simply said, “I’m so over you.”
“Cute.” Grayson chuckled as he walked away.
She watched him cross the room, her gaze sweeping over his tall frame. His broad shoulders, straight and proud, were encased in a snug, white T-shirt, and showed off a body he’d trained into shape his whole life. Graceful yet powerful, he strolled out of the room confident and secure. She sighed. Around him, she felt inadequate. She’d give anything to show him the woman she was inside, and not the awkward girl he remembered.
After lunch with Stephanie, Grayson closed himself behind the doors in his office at the center. Stretched out on the lounge chair near the window, he stared up at the ceiling. In less than twenty-four hours, Shauna had wormed her way back into his life and was already messing with his head.
What should’ve turned into an afternoon of sex with Stephanie had fizzled the second he’d sauntered out of Shauna’s office into the sunlight after their meeting. How could he throw himself into romancing Stephanie when all he saw were Shauna’s flashing eyes daring him? Oh, she might not have said the words, but he saw a challenge when it came.
He never thought he’d see Shauna again, in the flesh, in Cottage Grove. When she’d left, he figured she’d go on to some big city, do wonderful things with her life, and then settle down and have a family. That’s what he’d wanted for her. It was what she deserved.
What the hell was she doing back? He rubbed the spot on his chest, over his heart. She was up to something. He’d bet the tennis center on it.
He could remember exactly how he’d reacted to her yesterday in her white tennis skirt and light pink shirt, clinging to her tight but curvy figure. The buttons had been left undone on her top, leaving him glimpses of the deep valley between her breasts, and making his hands itch when she jogged back and forth returning the ball to him. She hadn’t lost her skill of playing and it bothered him that his own game had spiraled out of control around her.
He’d never had trouble getting his head in the game before, but yesterday he’d fumbled with the balls, tripped over the toe of his sneakers, and one time completely missed a serve. It had taken all his concentration to keep from sporting the biggest erection in his life while on the court. At the end of the hour-long lesson, he’d been lightheaded and sweating like a pig.
What he needed to do was call up one of his standby women and lose himself in an afternoon of sex.
He enjoyed going through women the way he did tennis shoes. One-nighters, a couple hours together, a midnight rendezvous entertained and satisfied him. Long-term relationships were for other people, not him. With his kind of lifestyle, he didn’t have time for love.
The Shauna that’d returned to Cottage Grove was different, but he could still see past the fake confidence. She tottered between total seductress and naïve girl next door. There was no way he could ignore the way her hands had shaken and how her breath had come in small gasps this afternoon. His whole psyche wanted to comfort her, and welcome her back with open arms. The chemistry between them had the ability to explode if he allowed it.
She’d made his life hell. As someone in the public eye, he’d gone to great strains not to allow the media to misread their relationship, which hadn’t always been easy. She was stubborn, foolish, and lived in her own dreamed up world.
Still, he couldn’t help appreciating her for all her eccentricity.
She’d always gone out of her way to say something nice, bake him cookies, or even sit outside on the steps at the center and babble on about the silliest thing in a time of his life when he’d needed the distraction. He’d looked forward to those times together with her, because the diversion kept him from dwelling on everything lacking in his own life.
Their friendship had seemed innocent. He was a messed up young adult, shoved into a life playing tennis with no direction off the court. Shauna had seemed to sense when he needed her the most, and he took her friendship, soaking up everything good about her to keep himself sane. With her, he could say what he wanted, laugh over her goofiness without fear of the cameras catching something on his face or in his words that he didn’t want them to see.
When his parents showed no incentive to attend his matches, she’d cheered louder than anyone. He wasn’t just a ranking, a bragging right, a cash machine with her. She’d honestly wanted to support him for the sole purpose of seeing him win.
After his parents died, she’d showed up more often. Most times, she’d sit with him at the center, not saying a word, silently comforting him in a way his managers and fans couldn’t. With her, he had never been alone.
It was during those sweet moments with her that he’d felt normal. To everyone else, his friendship with Shauna had bordered on improper. He’d been her coach and too old to form a friendship with someone under the age of eighteen. The others in town had never understood that despite the age gap, despite the difference in their lifestyle, despite the trouble Shauna caused, they’d bonded on the most basic level. He’d needed her as much as she needed him.
She was headstrong and impulsive. He admired the way she could thumb her nose at everyone in town and dance to her own beat. Something he wanted to do many times since the age of eight, when others had already planned his life course for him. He had managers that came and went, lessons, camps, tutors who traveled the world with him, and all he’d wanted to do was shuck off all his responsibility and go fishing. He scoffed. Okay, maybe not fishing, but he definitely wanted to do whatever caught his interest at the time.